Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-17
SHOULD I HAVE SPOKEN ?

Early In the year OF 1875 received an Invitation
nom an old friend Of mime, Colonel Armitage, q
run down to his house, Medlicott Grange. IN Berk.
shire, for some hunting ana couple Of ballA
As In those days was--well some yeArs youngel
than I am now, and (having but lately returned
nom India on sick leave) very keen On Ill sorts Of
English amusementA wrote on hurried note Of
acceptance, and speedily followed It.
| knew MrA Armitage slightly, ana was wen 90.
Quainted with the colonel's taste In champagne
beside which I had met, not long before. an un-
commonly pretty sister Of his, whom I thought
so started on In the best OF spifits to catch the
4:30 train at Paddington.
calculated . run Of two hours would give me
ample time for the three miles drive from the sta
ton, and TO dress for dinner At eight However.
vain were my hopes there was break down on
the line, which kept me kicking my heels 1t 4
wretched little junction for over an hour, and we
only reached Eastbury station at O'Clock There
was no help for It, dashed into the carriage sent
TO meet me, ami arrived at the Grange in - short
time as Armitags's steady old coachman would
allow, but found my host alone, awaiting me In
| the hail. with outstretched hand and genial wei
come.
1 knew he was q regular martinez for punctual.
| ity, so was not surprised when he hurried me up
| directly to my ROOM with orders to dress sharp.
| II was large and well appointed room, with Z
bright flre and candles, which looked very CHEEKY
| after my cold drive.
"An right. old chap. I'll send Reggie up to show
| you the way down In quarter Of an hour" were
the colonels last words a. he left me to my toilet.
dressed rapidly, but remembering the long pas.
sages unexpected steps intricate turnings and
numerous staircases had traversed on my way
suddenly the gong Numbered through the house,
and L thinking was forgotten, put out my candles
and young man appeared, Who Decfonsd Tome 70 me-
rather dark, AND began TO say something EXPIRES
| with wave OF his hand, and preceded me- with
noiseless steps and averted face, along the pas
Thought this was odd, but my surprise increased
when ne took an abrupt turn to the left, which I
| did not remember and we found ourselves In q
long, low OAK paneled corridor, dimly lighted BY
began to feel curious sensation stealing over
me, and endeavored TO speak, but was withheld By
feet silence to the end Of the corridor. He then
passed through green baize door, up flight of
so5Sscrsw stairs ana through another
stopped, opened a door, and stood back for me to
pass before him.
had not seen his face BEFORE but had observed
he was above the middle height, with good ng-
ure and father military gait; his hair was fair and
Now, however, saw his face; 1t was ashy white.
with such an expression OF horror ana fear In his
widely-opened eyes as froze my blood; I again
he motioned me imperiously to enter, ana I felt
constrained 10 obey.
l found myself In an odly-shaped room, only
lighted by the pale rays " the winter moon which
shOne in coIdly through the curtainless windows.
| 1t was evidently an unused apartment, for there
was no carpet, and my footsteps sounded hollow
on the boards Between the windows, half in
shadow, half moonlight, stood q large bed. As
gazed upon It my eyes became gradually accus-
toned sd. 70 the dim i'm light, and observed with q
rated with tall black plumes, like those on q
hearse, and that there was a rnotionless form ex-
tended upon IT,
Iglanced around for my guide-he was gone and
the door was shut, though had heard no sound.
A thrill OF horror ran through my veins felt an
same inexpicable force urged me on, and I ap-
preached the bed with slow and trembling steps.
There lay young, and, as far as / could see,
beautiful girl; dressed as o bride, in white satin
and lace, q wreath OF orange blossoms on her head
and the long white veil covering, though not OBJ
securing her features but oh, horr orr the front Of
her dress and veil were all daObled and soaked in
| blood, which could see flowed from q deep open
cash In her white throat
suddenly felt cold shock In my face,
| and opened my eyes to find myself on the ground
with my head supported by my kind host, who
| In his face. AS my bewildered senses reasserted
themselves l remembered what had seen and
the but IL sse BRIGHT sn
that It was without the gastly appendages had
seen before, aud was totally untenanted Colonel
seeing that TOO much daass 20 sns%s
took me by the arm, and half led me, half sup
ported, for was still faint and giddy, back TO my
own room. When there he put me into an arm chair
gave me glass Of water, and exclaimed: my dear
fellowl What on earth Is the matter with your
Ing sou waited ten
thinking you had lost your way. instituted regu.
lar search. and found you up in the old turret
myself together, and, as collectedly as / could
told him what had happened. He listened with
incredulity and then said: my dear Bruce, you
"whyf" / said, rather nettled, "how 90 you
suppose could have dreamt myself into that
room7 l ten you, Armltage that was as wide
what saw was no dream"
swell. then. the only other explanation is that
you must have been drunk"
.Reaiiy,n said attempting to force laugh, 81
only left town az 40, and there's not much to be
got out Of railway nask" Then, as he uttered q
wish to goodness could think was.S
"Look here, said Armitage, seriously, "don't you
60 talking about this to body but me- OF course
there are stories about this house. as or every old
house In England, but nobody has ever seen or
Imagined anything uncanny before, aid It will
fr1ghten Mrs Armitage to death II you tell her.
herr
-A Ign" , sa,d 5Tt wish Il hadn't hap
"Oh, nonsense. come down to dinner; a good
glass OF champagne will set you to rights, said
depression on my spirits and went down with num-
The bright lights, cheerful talk and clatter Of
plates seemed terrible incongruous and am afraid
pretty Miss Armltage must have thought me quite
on my head, for could eat nothing, drank fever
ishly, and replied at random to all her remarks
and condolences, while the dead face Of the MUIR
dered girl 10ated before my eyes and nearly dis
tracted me. 'Im afraid you don't feel at ali well
Captain Bruce?" she said at last "Please don't
think me dreadfuly rude, replied, "but II could
slip out unobserved should be most grateful
She sgnalled TO Reggie, q brtght-faced boy In an
Eten Jacket. whom begged TO show me upstairs,
though felt awfuily ashamed OF myself, literally
dared not attempt to IND my way up alone for fear
OF meeting my mysterious guide again. The IRE
burnt brightly In my room, the candles were Lit.
and 1t presented the same appearance Of luxurious
ease had before observed. Reggie regarded me
BY his fathers prohibition nom deluging me with
questions. detained him as long as I could with
trivial excuses, for q nervous horror OF solitude
began to possess me, but saw he was anxious to
be on again 70 his dinner, 30 let him 60.
went 70 the glass-and recoiled; hardly knew
face was very pale, and there was the haunted
look In my eyes had seen In his. Very soon the
door opened started nervOusly; but It was only
the colonel with steaming tumbler. "LOok here"
he said, "Just drink this on and get into bed
you'n be all hight In the morning." did 50, and
mixture, did send me Oh into q heavy dresmiess
sleep, which lasted till my blinds were drawn up
Dy the servant In the morning letting in fresh
sunshine. which speedily dispelled the Illusions Of
the previous night-for illusions was fain to be-
lieve them the face Of the bright wintry land
country house which stole up 70 my ears through
the echOing corridors.
whole day in the saddle and splendid nm
followed Dy cosey game OF billiards with Miss